Dhoni, Dube duo help Chennai end losing run with Lucknow win

Chennai Super Kings (CSK) finally brought their Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 campaign back on track with a commanding five-wicket win over Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in Match 30, played at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Cricket Stadium.

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Chasing a tricky target of 167 on a slow surface, CSK rode on disciplined bowling early on, a composed middle phase, and a trademark finish from MS Dhoni and Shivam Dube to seal their second win of the season and break a five-match losing streak.

Earlier in the evening, CSK’s bowlers laid the foundation for victory with a sharp, controlled performance. Khaleel Ahmed gave the perfect start, removing Aiden Markram in the first over, courtesy of a spectacular running catch by Rahul Tripathi. Then Anshul Kamboj, playing with energy and confidence, trapped the dangerous Nicholas Pooran for just 8 with a clever change of pace and a successful DRS referral taken by a smiling Dhoni. Captain Rishabh Pant held the innings together for LSG with a gritty 63 off 49 balls—his first fifty of the season. Coming in early after the double blow, Pant weathered the storm, building partnerships with Mitchell Marsh (30 off 25) and Ayush Badoni (22 off 17). But LSG’s innings lacked the flourish in the death overs, thanks to CSK's spin trio.